Hoxton Hall wins £1.8m from Heritage Lottery Fund

The venue, which celebrates its 150th anniversary next year, is a Grade II listed music hall built in 1863. It is one of only four of its type remaining in the UK and receives around 12,000 visitors a year to its drama, music and comedy shows.  The venue houses a 120-seat theatre along with a recording space, a dance studio and rehearsal rooms.

Sue Bowers, head of HLF London, said: “Hoxton Hall is a much-loved historic building which has stood the test of time and remained at the heart of its ever-evolving local community. We thought this was a wonderful project because it not only restores one of the last surviving saloon-style music halls, creating an expanded and vibrant space for people of all ages to use, but also encourages valuable volunteering and training opportunities.”

The funding means Hoxton Hall can continue into phase two of its three stage capital works. The plan will preserve and restore the saloon-style hall to its “former glory”, unveiling hidden original features including roof lay light. Funding will also enable digitally preserving an archive of 6,000 pieces, while informing a heritage exhibition and providing three years of heritage project funding.

Hoxton Hall group director, Hayley White, said: “This is a landmark day for Hoxton Hall. Now, in partnership with HLF we can really raise the curtain for this beautiful old music hall. With our immediate challenge to fundraise for a further £425,000, we will commence restoring and modernising to ensure the building is fit for purpose for the future and curate a permanent exhibition from our archive unveiling the culture of the East End.”

– Callum Brodie